Travelling nurses please give advice

Published

Specializes in babysitting.

I'm interested in travelling nursing. Can someone tell me more about it? Is it where you just travel to different states where needed? How often do you travel and is the food and accomodations included or do you have to pay out of pocket for it? I heard there was good money in it. Do you have to stay in hotels all the time? How long do you stay at one hospital before you move to another one? Do you do different things or do you just travel for one thing like maybe dialysis everywhere you go or NICU everywhere you go?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

You call and sign on with a travel nurse company such as Cross Country travel. You need to accept assignments in units that you have experience in. For example I have only worked ER. Companies and more importantly hospitals want you to have at least one year experience in said area.

If you are taking a contract far enough away from home than you will recieve an hourly wage and either an all expense paid small apt or montly housing stipend.

Right now is a very bad time to take a travel assigment. Contracts are almost completely gone and many travel nurses are signing on staff because they can't find travel assignments

Before you travel it is important to have several months living expenses in savings as many travelers have accepted contracts, went to them and then been canceled with no warning. This is very common.

Before you travel you need to research it very carefully. There is a travel forum here that you can read. I also recommend Pantravelers, highway hyperdermics and the delphi forum.

No matter how carefully you plan and research you will find that you missed stuff.

Most importantly, travel because you want to see something or experience a way of life in a different part of the country. When all is said and done I have lost money on every contract I have taken but one. It is not usually a way to make lots of money, but a great way to have new experiences.

You also have to have a thick skin because sometimes regular staff abuses travelers and agency pretty bad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in babysitting.

Thanks for your help. So If a contract was canceled, doesn't the agency find you something else?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.

Johnny this is a link for traveling nurses... post a message there, ask them all your inquires, are so nice nurses there and are from long time travelers.....hugs till you decide what to do!

https://allnurses.com/travel-nursing/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion